Pivot gun



Feb. V13, 1940.

E. NUDING 2,190,332

rIvoT GUN l AFiled oct.' 9, 1937 5 sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 13, 1940. .E. NUDING 190,332

PIVOT GUN Filed Oct. 9, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. NUDING 2,190,332

PIVOT GUN l Filed oct. 9, 19:57 s sheetssheet s case I caseI F. 13, 1940. E NUM@ 2,190,332

PIVOT GUN Filed Oct. 9, 19,37 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

E. NUDING Feb. 13, 1940.

PIVGT GUN Filed OC'I'..A 9. y'1937' 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 13, 194;@

' Uniti-'TE gigi' alum Krupp Aktiengesellschaft,

Ruhr, Germany appagante october 9,

Essen onthe- 1937, Serial. N0. 168;].49`

In Germany October 21, 1936- 8 Claims.

`The present invention relates to a pivot gun in which the pivot carrying the upper carriage can be given an inclination relatively to the lower carriage, in order to adjust the pivot vertically s, in space.

In known guns ofv this` class the upper carriage isvrigid-lj,7 connected to a pivot which fromV above projects into a pivot housing mounted on the lowercarriage, the pivot being supported in the o housing through the intermediary of a ball or Cardan; joint. The lower endv of the pivot, further; is. adjustably mounted ony the lower carriage. This construction suiers. from the drawback of having a very great ring height.

The object of the present. invention is a pivot gun, whichy has av notably smaller firing height and: thus greater stability. This object is obtained by connecting the upper carriage to a sleeve whichis mounted for rotation on a pivot, the latter, preferably near its lower extremity, being; suspended from the lower carriage by means of a Cardan joint or the like and beingy provided at its lower extremity with lateral arms rigidly fixed to it and adjustably connected to f the lower. carriage.

The invention further provides that in any position of the lower carriage on the ground, which carriage advantageously is constructed as a cruciform carriage, the required angle of inclination to be given to the pivot is adjusted by means of shortest possible screw spindles, by displacing saidv lateral rigid sleeve arms by an angle relatively to two adjacent legs of the cruciform lower carriage, preferably by'an angle oi 45 der grees.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into eiect, two embodiments of the same are illustratedv by way of example inthe accompanying drawings, in which Figure l shows schematically the structure of af pivot gun carriage, with adjusting mechanism for the upper carriage, of the known type, whilst .Figures 2 and 3 show schematically two different structures of carriage according to the invention.

Figure 4 is a vertical section on line IV-IV, Figure 5, of a carriage forming the first embodiment correspond-ing to the structure according to Figure 3,v

Figure 5 is a top view, partly in horizontal section on the line V-V of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a vertical section on the line VIA-VI ofv Figure 5,

Figurer? is an illustration serving to disclose (Cl. kS9--40) the second embodiment and showing schematically two different positionsv of the cross carriage onl the ground,

FiguresS and Sareperspective schematic views ci the carriage of the first embodiment, in the two positions shown: in Figure '7,

Figures 10y andi 1l are.l perspective schematic views of the carriage according to thesecond em-A hodiment, in the, two positions of Figure 7,

. Figure 12 is a top view,` partly in section, of

the carriage of the second embodiment, andv Figure 13 is ak vertical. section on the line XIII-XIII of Figure l2'. f

It may be seen from the schematic Figures 1i ,l

port necessary for a firm support ofthe upper carriage. The-stressen the adjusting mechanism by the' braking forces occurring upon. the recoil of thev gun barrel depends onr the ratiovof: the distance c' of the axis I of the gun barrelf from@ the pointof suspension (Cardan joint) 2 'of theparts adjustable relatively to the lower,v carriage; 'to' the distanceb of this point of'suspension 29h-om the. point of application; 3 of the rotary adjusting mechanism. In; theI carriagey structure according tc Figure 2 .the distanceV a', true, is somewhat greater than Figure l', owing to the angular arrangement, however, the lever arm'7 b' can be enlarged here tothe same extent,y without causing an increase. oi the iiring height. Itfwill beA noted that the iiring` height e" in Figuret12 is lower than in Figure l. By thespecial construer` tion of the pivot according to: Figure 3^, however, the distance c is notably reduced when. com'4 pared with Figure 2 andl thus the firing height. cfisv still. further reduced. .i

For an exact positioning of the upper carriager on the lower carriage, owing tothe playv due Atof unavoidable clearance in the bearings-,. thelong distance c' between the two bearings!! and 5'is` of importance. Furthermore, the height d', which is available for thejattachmentof the walls of the upper carriage to thepivct or the sleeve;` is. important for the inner rigidity of the upper car'- nage.

chosen alike in all three schematic examples. i' Y Constructional details of aA carriage constructed according to modification, Figure 3` of the invention, are shown in Figures 4 to 6. In these iigures, 6 denotes the lower, cruciform carriage Both of these constructional items' are'.- e

asf@

on which, by means of traverses 1, Figure 6, and bearings 8, the trunnions 9 of a Cardan ring I0 are supported. The pivotal column II on which the gun is slued has at its lower end an external flange I2 which is provided with axially-directed extensions I3, see Figure 4, and stiffening ribs I4. The flange I 2 has fixed to it a short tubular piece I5, outwardly anged at its upper end, and two angle irons I5, all of which elements together form the bearings on ring I9 for the two other trunnions I1, disposed 90 apart from trunnions 9 and by which pivotal column I I is journalled in the Cardan ring I0. TheI pivot column I I has further rigidly attached to it two radiallyA extending arms which include an angle of 90 and are formed by vertical sheet metal plates I8 welded to the periphery of extensions I3 and by rigid angle iron braces I9 to the upper portion of tubular piece I5. These arms I8, I9 thus form each a fork, the two prongs of which are fixed to the column above and below the Cardan journal 9, I1, respectively. The walls I8 and angle irons I9 of each arm jointly support at their outer ends a sleeve 20, the sleeveof each arm having journalled in it a stud 2 I. This stud has a bifurcated outer end within which is supported on horizontal pivots 23 a threaded nut block 22. A threaded adjusting spindle 24 passes through the nut block 22 and is mounted in its turn for rotation in a block 25 Cardanically but non-shiftably suspended from the lower carriage. At the top the spindle 24 carries a hand wheel 2G.

The upper carriage is mounted on the pivot I I by means of a sleeve 21 and two antifriction bearings 28 and 29. A ball thrust bearing 39, further, takes up the weight of the upper carriage and of'all parts carried by the latter. The upper carriage comprises a box 3l' which by means of horizontal plates 32 and vertical plates 33 is connected to the sleeve 21. This box carries lateral carriage walls 34 on which are provided the bearings for the horizontal gun trunnions 35.` The elevating gear of the gun is marked by the toothed arc 36 and pinion 31. Lateral training is effected by an internally toothed wheel 38 fixed on the flanged portion of tubular piece I5 and in mesh with a pinion (not shown) mounted on the upper carriage.

' YThe 'tubular shape of the piece I5 which carries' the Cardan journals I1 results in the possibility of a particularly rigid mounting of the adjusting arms I8, I9. The 'bfurcated form of thesek arms, see Figure 4, further notably increases' their resistance to bending.

The Vhereinbefore described carriage constructed according to the invention shows, when compared with the known type of carriage, the further advantage,` that the diameter of the internally'toothed wheel 38 of the training mechanis'mA caribe-made very large without interfering in any way with other `parts of the carriage. The .power for operating the carriage upon' training, therefore, can be kept small.

In` the following will now be described the second embodiment.

For` better comprehension of the nature of the improvements obtained by this modification, the conditions prevailing in the embodiment just described, in which the axes of the legs 6 of the lower carriage coincide in the top view with those of theadjusting arms I8, I9, (Figures 8 and 9), may be compared in the following with the conditions'prevailing in the modiiication represented in 'Figures 12 and 13, in which the axes of the legs., of the lower carriage are displaced 45 degrees relatively to those of the adjusting arms (Figures l() and 11).

It should be stated rst, that there are two -limit positions which a cruciform carriage can take on the ground. These two limit positions are illustrated in Figure 7, in which the ground is represented by a rectangle in which an arrow indicates the direction of the inclination of the ground. In the position denoted by Case I one axis of the legs of the lower carriage extends in the direction of the inclination while the other axis is normal thereto. In Case II both axes of the carriage legs are displaced 45 degrees relatively to the inclination direction of the ground. The axis about which the cross carriage can be turned relatively to the ground, in order to partly or wholly compensate the inclined position of the carriage is denoted in Case I by X-X, in Case II by Y-Y. i

These two foregoing cases are investigated in the following for each of two embodiments, Figure 8 showing Case I and Figure 9 showing Case II for the first embodiment, whilst in Figure 10 is represented Case I and in Figure 1l Case II for the second embodiment. In these gures A, A denote the axes of the legs of the lower carriage and B, B the axes of the adjusting arms. The legs can be lifted (or lowered) in known manner each by the amount a b-y means of screw jacks provided on their outer extremity and the adjusting arms can be lifted (or lowered) from their middle position each by the amount b, by screw spindles, such as 24 in Figures 4 and 6 and |24 in Figure 13.

Case I in connection with the first embodiment will be considered iirst by reference to Figure 8. In this case turning of the carriage about the axis X--X is obtained by that leg which extends in the direction of the inclination, being lifted by the amount a, while the legs extending transversely of the former are lifted each by the amount Therefrom results Yan inclined position of the plane of the legs relatively to the ground, the angle of which position can be calculated from tang the inclination thus assumes the value a, (i342 y The maximum inclination (a) that can be obtained with the given amount a thus does not lie, generally spoken, in the direction of the legs, as in Case I, but between the legs.

. 9) coincide also.

' f Thelsame; considerations: apply` also` to the` ad:- iustingoperation; of` the arms B, B; The inclined position obtainable b-y the; amountlbrelativelyvttheplane-oi the llegs fis, .inthe direction ofi the adjusting'. arms.:

in.Eigu1'e8,-.and isin the-midst between the-arms tY t@ (desea-#M1342 inthe-midst between the legs in Case Il, Figure In other words, a greater incl-ination. of.- the ground can be compensated with the, first. embodiment and with the carriage in ther positionfo-i Case II, than with the position of (1a/sell InJ the-second. embodiment, Figures 10 and il,

` an angle can be compensated, with the carriage in1the position of- Case I, bythe carriage legsand-bythe adjusting the arms an angle l If thev valuesot a and b are equal in both cases,

thus ai greater. inclination ofthe ground can be compensated, in the second embodiment with the. carriage in theposition. of GaseIthan. in the rstembodiment.

Conditionsare converseinlCase II, Figure 11.

In this-case we can compensate with the second embodiment an angle oc' cm1/5 by the carriage legs, but by the adjusting arms, only the angle together The inclination of the ground which can be compensated in Case II thus is smaller than with the rst embodiment.

Now it is of importance in practice to provide that a determined limit value of the inclination of the ground can be compensated at any rate, for instance a limit value prescribed by the user, no matter in which position the carriage may be relatively to the ground, that is in the position of Case I, Case II or in an intermediate position. This limit Value which is obtained at any rate by the amounts a and b, is +5 in the rst embodiment,

a1.\/2 OI LV2-t3 in the second embodiment. That means, that without alteration of the values a and b in the second embodiment the limit value is higher or that a determined limit value can be obtained by lower values of a and b (in practice a low Value of b is dealt with), than in the rst embodiment. The screw spindles of the adjusting gear which determine the Value b` therefore can have a shorter operating length in the second embodiment 'than in the rst one.

This second embodiment is illustrated in detail in Figures 12 and 13. It differs from the rst-described.I embodiment merely by v,the azdjusting: arms being angularly displaced relatively: tothe legs of. the lowery carriage. Thelatten is: denoted by lil andis formed againas acruciform-.base comprising four legs. Onthe carriage ist: is mounted.- by means of bearings |08 and; trunnions m9 thel Cardan ring |1|0.in which the pivotal. column i|`| restson trunnions lil-1. Thecolumn has nxedf to it twoadjusting arms:-

I-i, Mawhichinclude anangle of 90" and, vseenfrom. above, Figure 12, extend. by 45 displaced relatively tol the'axes of the legsof the lower car` o ringe. By, sleeves ld: and studs IZI. journalled therein, the arms` i8., ||.9.farel connectedl tonutsi322 adapted' to turnionhorizontaltrunnions |23, seeFigureflS. The nuts |22in theirturnare in engagement with screw spindles lll-.whi'chare` Gardanically suspended from they lower/carriage and. areadapted` tobe actuated byhand wheels |263, al1 inthe saine manner as yshown in andde'-` *scribed with referenceto. Figures 4 and' 5.

Onthe pivot column H1 is mounted, similar 'co-Figure fi, through the intermediary of' suitable antiirictionbearings, the upper carriage |34, in which rest the horizontal trunnions |35. of' the cradle (not shown) carrying the. gun barrel. The free ends ofthe legs It-.of the carriage can beflifted andlowered inknown manner by screwv jacks |36..

Vithat I claim and desire to secure by. Letters Patent. is: v

1. In a. gunv carriage structure of: the class described, a. lower. carriage and an upper carriage, a pivotal column Cardanically mounted lat itslovlenend on said lower carriage, a supporting element connected with said upper carriage and disposed to surround and rotate on said column,` twdupwardly projecting` lugs-xed at` the lowei-A end oi said. coltmnA and surrounding the lower partA ci' said supporting element and carrying one pair ofy the-journals offtheCard'an mounting, two angulari'y.-spaced. radial arms attachedy to the` lower end of sai'dcolumn, and means for adjust# ably connecting said arms to said lower carriage,

2. In a gun carriage structure of the class described, a lower carriage and an upper carriage, a pivotal column Cardanically mounted at its lower end on said lower carriage, a sleeve provided on said upper carriage and disposed to engage over and rotate on said column, an upwardly Y tached to the lower end of said column, and

means for adjustably connecting saidy arms to said lower carriage.

3. In a gun carriage structure of the class described, a lower carriage and an upper carriage, a pivotal column Cardanically mounted at its lower end on said lower carriage, a sleeve provided on said upper carriage and disposed to engage over and rotate on said column, a training gear interposed between said upper carriage and said column for controlling the rotation of said carriage, an upwardly projecting annular element rigidly attached to the lower end of said column, said element surrounding the lower part oi said sleeve and carrying one pair of the journals of said Cardan mounting and a toothed ring forming part of said training gear, two angularly-spaced radial arms attached to the lower end of said column, and means for adjustably connecting said arms to said lower carriage.

Y 4. In a gun carriage structure of the class described, a lower carriage and an upper carriage, a pivotal column Cardanically mounted at its lower end on said lower carriage, a sleeve provided on said upper carriage and disposed to engage over and rotate on said column, two angularly-spaced radial arms attached to the lower end of said column, and means for adjustably connecting said arms to said lower carriage, each of said arms' having bifurcated inner ends attached to said column, two of the journals of said Cardan mounting being arranged each between the points of attachment of said bifurcated ends of one of said arms to said column.

5. In a gun carriage structure of the class dev scribed, a lower carriage and an upper carriage, a pivotal column Cardanically mounted at its lower end on said lower carriage, a sleeve provided on said upper carriage and disposed to engage-over and rotate on saidA column, an upwardly projecting annular element rigidly attached to the lower end of said column and surrounding the lower part of said sleeve and carrying one pair of the journals of said Cardan mounting, two angularly-spaced radial arms attached to said annular element, each of said arms consisting of two parts having bifurcated inner ends fixed to said annular elements, each journal of a pair of journals of said Cardan mounting being arranged between the four points' of attachment of the bifurcated ends of one of said arms to said annular element, and means for adjustably connecting the outer ends of said arms to said lower carriage.

6. In a gun carriage structure of the class described, a cruciform lower carriage, means on the legs thereof for leveling said carriage with respect to the ground, an upper carriage, a pivotal column Cardanically mounted at its lower end on said lower carriage, a sleeve provided on said upper carriage and disposed to engage over and rotate on said column, two angularly-spaced radial arms attached to the lower end of said column, and means for adjustably connecting said arms to said lower carriage, each between two of the legs thereof.

7. In a gun carriage structure of the class described, a cruciform lower carriage, means on the legs of said lower carriage for leveling it with respect to the ground, an upper carriage, a pivotal column Cardanically mounted at its lower end on said lower carriage, a sleeve provided on said upper carriage and disposed to engage over and rotate on said column, two upwardly projecting lugs rigidly attached to the lower end of said column, said lugs surrounding the lower part of said sleeve and carrying one pair of journals of the Cardan mounting, two angularly-spaced j and inwardly bifurcated radial arms attached to said lugs, each `of said arms consisting of two arm elements having bifurcated inner ends xedto said lugs, two of the journals of said Cardan mounting being arranged each between the four points of attachment of the bifurcated ends of one of said arms, the outer ends of said arms having means for adjustably connecting them to said lower carriage, each arm between two of the legs thereof, so as to form angles of 45 therewith.

8. In a gun carriage structure of the class described, a lower carriage and an upper carriage, a pivotal column and means for universally pivotally supporting said column at its lower end on? said lower carriage to permit said column to tilt in all directions, a supporting element connected with said upper carriage and surrounding said column, said element having means disposed near its upper end and means disposed at its lower end and not higher than said column pivot means for rotatably supporting it by said column, and two angularly-spaced radial arms rigidly attached to the lower end of said column, and means for adjustably connecting said arms to said lower carriage to tilt said column a desired angle in any direction relatively to said lower carriage. 

